Autumn colours have taken hold of the landscape in the tablelands and Tash Burleigh will look to do the same at Goulburn’s race meeting on Thursday.
Burleigh has five acceptors across seven races on her home track, with Molteuno, already a winner this campaign, leading the team out in Race 2, The Electel Services Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1100m.
Burleigh has confidence that the mare can bounce back from an unplaced ‘away game’ when up in class at Gundagai three weeks back.
“Up in grade was always going to be a test," she said.
"But I was happy with her effort on a tough track in tough company. She ran out of luck and got squeezed out of contention, running into the last 200m.”
“She hasn't drawn favourably but has come through that last start well, will have benefited from the time between runs and back in grade this time carrying fifty-eight kilos.”
The lightly raced stablemate Slay Queen has had a few stable changes already in her short career but is now on the up and up since finding a home with Burleigh.

Molteuno wins at Goulburn in March (Pic: Bradley Photos).
“Slay Queen had come to us with a few quirks, a couple of little barrier manners that just needed to be ironed out. She has settled right in here at Goulburn. I've been very happy with her,” Burleigh offered.
Slay Queen chases two wins on the bounce in Goulburn’s quaddie closer, the Worklocker Goulburn Country Boosted Class 1 (1200m).
“She put a nice win on the board last start at Queanbeyan, it was very rewarding for all of us, especially her owner who was rewarded for his patience.”
The mare chased home Trooper (a subsequent six length Anzac Day winner at Bathurst) first up, before franking that form in good style last start, a positive Robyn Freeman ride taking luck out of the equation for connections.
“We hope to see her race on in positive fashion on Thursday, she has drawn seven, hopefully that gives her the opportunity to find a nice possie and Robyn is back on her. All being well we will hopefully get a few more runs from her this prep.”
Freeman continues her association with the stable via three rides on the program, Slay Queen, Miss Leeway (Race 3) and Corio Willow.
The latter is still chasing a maiden win and kicks off a new campaign in Race 5 The Doyles Seafood Maiden Handicap over 1100m, her trainer happy to play the long game for now.
“Corio Willow has been working well,'' she said.
"We do think that she will progress to being a middle distance, maybe even long-distance contender, but happy with where she's at. She will improve off this run and we hope to see more positive things to come for her as her preparation progresses.”
The trainer also thought Miss Leeway could benefit from a slightly longer trip.
“She has come through her run at Queanbeyan quite well. She will be looking for a bit further ground in time and she's been working great. I'm very happy with her.”
Kisses For Jody (Race 1) tops up Burleigh's Thursday tilt, the mare having scored an overdue win at Goulburn two starts back since a summer transfer into Burleigh’s care.
“We were more looking for the distance for her to race over rather than the grade. It’s turned out to be quite a small field and hopefully on her home track she can run well.”
The unassuming trainer also has stable stalwart Pokerjack trekking north on Saturday for ‘The Thunder Thousand’ as part of Gosford’s ‘The Coast’ race day.
Burleigh says she’s more than happy with what she saw first up in town from her bona fide sprinter.
“Very happy with Pokerjack's first-up effort a couple of weeks ago at Randwick. He will head to Gosford this Saturday and we will claim with him this time around.”
Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 5 with Thursday’s opener set to go at 12.20pm. The club acknowledges the support of its race day partners including Electel Services, Doyles Seafood Restaurant, Worklocker Goulburn, Goulburn Hay Supplies, Divalls Earthmoving and REC Equine Specialists.
All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Goulburn meeting